ABSTRACT
Under the rule of the Gonfalonier Soderini, and in more prosperous times, Florence was again flourishing and tasting that happiness which nations enjoy when their leaders are good, wise, and moderate. When he was elected he found the city practically ruined, and he therefore devoted his attention to administering her finances with the utmost diligence, exercising that extreme parsimony which he applied in his own private affairs. In four years he had restored the city’s economy, revived the government’s credit and lightened the taxes. He trusted the people and they trusted him. On the other hand, the hatred and suspicion which some of the Optimates felt for him, had increased. It seemed to these few leaders of great families, among whom were Alamanno Salviati and Giovambattista Ridolfi, 1 that he did not take enough heed of them. This was quite true, for the Gonfalonier, seeing that in the small councils he was overshadowed by their wisdom and reputation, preferred to govern through the Signoria and the Colleges or the Council of Eighty, where men of lesser stature were in the majority and readier to give way to the authority of his office and his greater experience of public affairs. The suspicions and displeasure of the Optimates therefore increased, so that eventually they opposed all his plans simply to annoy and humiliate him, while Soderini, when one of his proposals was checked by them, would turn to those with whom he more easily found favour, and with obstinate perseverance usually succeeded in carrying them with him.
